Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp met with Republican lawmakers in Washington, D.C. this week, fueling rumors of a possible 2026 Senate election, Politico reported Tuesday.
The limited-term Kemp met with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky on Tuesday at the Capitol, and on Wednesday with Senator Steve Danes of Montana, chairman of the National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC). The two are planning to meet and are familiar with the plan. Said Politico. The governor’s visit to Washington, D.C. opens the door to a possible 2026 run for re-election for Georgia Democratic Senator John Ossoff after his second term ends.
“I’m focused on winning Georgia in ’24 and winning the White House,” Kemp told Politico. (Related: Republican Governor Brian Kemp Defeats Democratic Challenger Stacey Abrams in Georgia)
In the last few Senate election cycles, Republicans have lost key seats in Georgia, with Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock defeating Republican Herschel Walker in the 2022 midterm elections, and Ossoff in the 2020 midterm elections. Warnock won incumbent Republican Senator Kelly as he defeated incumbent Republican Senator David Perdue. Loeffler’s seat in the 2020 special election.
The National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC) has voted to cut the number of more moderate Republican candidates elected in 2024, citing concerns over the defeat of candidates aligned with former President Donald Trump in the past few cycles. Focusing on holding.
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 28: Senator John Ossoff (D-Georgia) speaks at the Democratic Party of Georgia election campaign event in College Park, GA. (Ilya Nouverge/Getty Images)
Kemp defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams in the 2018 and 2022 gubernatorial races, most recently by about eight percentage points. according to Go to Ballotpedia. Kemp served as state senator and then secretary of state from 2010 to 2018 before becoming governor.
Kemp has since dropped his White House candidacy, after Kemp’s name has frequently surfaced as a candidate for president in 2024. according to to CNN.
Ossoff ran for a special election for Congress in 2017, but lost to former Republican congressman Karen Handel by almost four points. according to Go to Ballotpedia. In 2020, Ossoff narrowly beat Purdue 50.6% to 49.4%.
Kemp did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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